Britain on alert for MORE storms as August brings THUNDER and RAIN

BRITAIN is on alert for more storms with parts of the country braced for thunder and rain from Thursday.

Tourists flee the storm raging over the beach, left, as flooding stops drivers in their tracks [PA]

Swathes of the country also face a wet weekend - although it will still be much warmer than average for the time of year.

It comes after "apocalyptic" storms ravaged the south this week with torrential downpours leaving communities waist-deep in floodwater.

In Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, a pregnant woman was rescued after getting trapped in mud along the coast.

It was a breathtaking experience - I was actually crying at what I saw

Mary-Anne Drabble, tourist

Two fire engines and a hovercraft were called after eight people became stranded near the popular resort's Birnbeck Pier.

The woman, who is eight-months pregnant, a teenage boy and an older man were the first to be rescued from the mud.

It prompted Avon Fire and Rescue Service to warn holidaymakers to take care of soft ground when the tide recedes.

A spokesman said: "We would like to remind people to take care when out and about enjoying the North Somerset coastline."

As the storm clouds parted in East Sussex, the sun cast an eerie glow on the sea resembling a scene from Alien film Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.

Severe flooding at Ruislip train station as storms hit the Hove, Brighton and Worthing in rush-hour [PA]

Photographer Adrian Campfield managed to catch a snap of the strange light show while he was having dinner with his wife Louise at Beachy Head.

The 59-year-old said the light was "changing all the time" for a quarter of an hour.

And holidaymakers in Cornwall has a close encounter of their own - as a dolphin performed a series of tricks and stunts to the delight of bathers on Gwithian beach.

Tourist Mary-Anne Drabble, 41, said: "It was a breathtaking experience - I was actually crying at what I saw."

The Met Office said more showers are likely towards the end of the week with the unsettled picture lasting through the weekend.

Spokeswoman laura Young said: "There is some in certainty at the moment but we are expecting a 'flabby low' pressure system which could lead to showers.

"It is still looking unsettled on Friday and Saturday."

Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel said: "Showers will become more frequent across the north and west on Thursday with the risk of thunder, some scattered showers reaching the Midlands later in the day.

"On Friday the showers become more widespread as the cold front pushes through, some heavy falls across the north and west but still some sunny spells for SE until showers reach there later in the day."

Netweather said temperatures in the south will hover in the 70s this week with the north enjoying temperatures in the high 60s.

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said it could be the middle of next month before there is a break to the wet weather.

He said: "Things are really going to kick off again on Friday with more rain on the way and the risk of thunder and lightning.

"It will continue to be unsettled next week and into the beginning of August, it could be mid month before there is any real change.

"It is going to stay warm though with temperatures still above average for the time of year."

Forecaster Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook said: "Friday onwards looks increasingly iffy in all regions, with an increasing chance of low pressure areas pushing unsettled weather over all parts of the UK."

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said it dealt with 20 incidents following flash flooding this week including the rescue of five people from three neighbouring houses which were flooded.

The AA said it attended 34 flood-related call outs in west London and West Sussex.

Storms flood Kent beaches with sewage

Families had their summer holiday day trips ruined today after heavy rain caused sewage to spill into the sea, forcing the partial closure of nine popular beaches.

Bathers were warned by council chiefs not to enter the sea below the high water mark - the area of sand reached during a high tide - at the following nine beaches in Kent: Walpole Bay, Palm Bay, Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Joss Bay, Stone Bay, Viking Bay, Louisa Bay and Dumpton Gap.

Signs were put up at each of the beaches telling the public of the problem.

Bathers were still allowed to go on the rest of the beach which remained open to the public.